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Non centralized security function for a radio interface

Non centralized security function for a radio interface description/claims

The present invention generally relates to wireless communication and more particularly relates to improved security for voice over internet protocol (“VoIP”) calls using a wireless fidelity (“WIFI”) interface on a wireless communication device.

As dual mode voice/data devices emerge, there is a need to provide security to voice calls over the data interface that is similar to the security provided to voice calls over the voice interface. In conventional wireless internet protocol (“IP”) communications, security is typically multi layered. The wireless air interface is protected as per the IEEE 802.11i specification and end-to-end security can be provided using IPSec.

One particular problem with conventional dual mode devices is that implementations of the supplicant module on such devices, which provides for encryption and decryption of data over the wireless link between the dual mode device and the data network access point (“AP”), are integrated with the WIFI management functionality on the dual mode device. This integrated approach has created a need in the market for a dual mode device with a voice over IP (“VoIP”) solution that is more flexible and can employ the various modules provided by different software vendors that develop the critical modules required for IEEE 802.11i security.

A module dual mode device architecture and method of use is disclosed. The system architecture provides a unique distributed design of an IEEE 802.11i compliant supplicant module that provides security to data/voice packets sent over the wireless local area network (“WLAN”) radio interface from a dual mode device to an access point.

The dual mode device establishes a connection with the access point and if the access point is security enabled, one or more session keys are generated. The session keys are used to provide security for communications over the radio interface between the dual mode device and the access point. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a network diagram illustrating an example dual mode device in communication over a wireless wide area network (“WWAN”) and a wireless local area network (“WLAN”) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example dual mode device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A-3C are communication flow diagrams illustrating example interactions between modules in a dual mode device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process for secure communications over a radio interface according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example wireless communication device that may be used in connection with various embodiments described herein.

Certain embodiments as disclosed herein provide for a dual mode device with a distributed architecture capable of implementing non centralized security for communications over the radio interface with a WLAN. For example, one method as disclosed herein allows for the dual mode device to establish a connection with the access point and generate one or more session keys if the access point is security enabled. The session keys are then used to provide security for communications over the radio interface between the dual mode device and the access point.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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